With district play beginning this week for the Columbia Wildcats, they are hoping it is time they finally put it all together consistently.
The Wildcats (4-6) got a big 8-4 win over Brookhaven, a Class 5A school at Co-Lin Community College March 9 in one of their better all-around performances of the season.
Jackson Carney doubled and singled twice to drive in a pair of runs, Conner Cox had two singles and plated a run and Tucker Lucas had a bases-clearing double and 4 RBI. Luke Stogner drew the start and gave up one earned run and one unearned run in two innings on four hits and a pair of walks. Carter Smith and Nik Carney shut the door for the Wildcats in relief, with Smith tossing 2 1/3 hitless innings and Carney striking out six in 2 2/3 innings.
“Brookhaven ran out a really good arm, who was probably in the mid-to-upper 80s, and I was proud of our guys’ approaches. We got his pitch count up and got him out of there after four innings,” head coach Kyle Lindsey said. “I thought we did some things well offensively and defensively that gave us a chance to win late. We separated the game there in the sixth and seventh inning and got the W.”
Taking on Stringer, who is ranked No. 2 in Class 1A, at Jones March 9, Columbia surrendered four runs in the third inning and five more in the fourth to lose 12-2 in a run-rule shortened four-inning game. Lindsey said it was day and night compared to how the Wildcats played against Brookhaven.
“We had some miscues on defense and walked too many guys,” Lindsey said. “I thought it was the first time all year we shut down in the game. I was pretty disappointed in that, but it was a learning experience for the guys.”
Following a good practice Friday, Columbia turned it around and showed up to play Saturday at Perry Central, beating the Bulldogs 8-4.
“Again Nik Carney and Carter Smith out of the bullpen slammed the door. It was a pretty good combination of limiting walks and keeping (Perry Central) in check offensively,” Lindsey said.
The Wildcats were supposed to play at Tylertown Tuesday, but it got rained out and moved to Thursday. Columbia was scheduled to play at Sumrall Thursday, but the game had to be canceled to make room for the district contest against Tylertown. The Wildcats will play the Chiefs again Friday at home prior to a home-and-away, two-game set next week against West Marion Tuesday and Friday, respectively.
Going into Region 8-3A play, Lindsey said he likes the way Cox, Eli Lowery and Austin Arnold are swinging the bat and thinks the CHS pitching staff has upside as long as it throws strikes. He added he believes the district is going to competitive and come down to the wire, but West Marion is the team to beat.
“Any time you show up for a district game, you can’t take any of them for granted. That day is the most important game we’ve got,” he said. “I’ve heard Tylertown has really improved. They have some athletes who can move around once they get on the bases. I think they’ll be more of a challenge than they’ve been in the past, so we’re not going to overlook them. Next week, obviously it doesn’t matter how good or bad we are or how good or bad West Marion is, it’s always going to be a battle.”
